Artwork
Angled Beauty
Angled Beauty is an ink print by Arthur Bowen Davies. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1918, *Angled Beauty* is a black-and-white print produced by Arthur B. Davies through soft‑ground etching combined with aquatint on laid paper. The work exemplifies the artist’s interest in exploring line, tone, and texture, presenting a composed scene that balances figure and landscape within a monochrome palette.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features two nude female figures positioned in a wooded setting: one kneels on the left, the other stands on the right. Surrounded by foliage, the figures are rendered with subtle gradations of light and shadow, suggesting a quiet, intimate interaction with nature rather than a narrative episode.
Technique & Style
Davies employed a soft‑ground etching process to capture delicate, atmospheric lines, while aquatint added broad tonal areas that convey depth and volume. The laid paper surface contributes a faint texture that interacts with the printed marks, enhancing the sense of three‑dimensional space despite the work’s monochrome limitation.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of early 20th‑century American prints. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s focus on representing the contributions of artists who shaped modernist discourse in the United States.
Artist & collection
Artist
Arthur Bowen Davies (September 26, 1862 – October 24, 1928) was an avant-garde American artist and influential advocate of modern art in the United States c. 1910–1928.
